Our School

History & Ethos of Our Lady's Terenure

Our Lady’s School first opened its doors in 1953 and has since been steadily progressing and developing to meet our community’s needs. There have been two extensions to the original school building, the most recent of which was opened in 2011, creating much needed additional space and updating technological and practical classrooms.

The school’s facilities, in addition to general classrooms, include three computer rooms, three collaborative multi-purpose project rooms, five science laboratories, three Home Economics kitchens, two learning support rooms, an inviting, contemporary library (we have been awarded the PDST National Well Read Award reflecting our whole school reading and literacy initiatives), two music rooms, an oratory, a lecture theatre, two collaborative classrooms, two art rooms, two guidance rooms, and two multi-purpose halls used for assemblies, study and as lunch rooms. Hot food is available at lunch time in the canteen in Lourdes Hall.

Our Lady’s School is a Health Promoting School and our students thrive on a well-structured Physical Education programme and a vast array of extra-curricular activities. We have a sports hall, an exercise/gym area and an astro-turf hockey pitch. Neighbouring Bushy Park provides an additional location for PE classes and extracurricular activities. Students are encouraged to get active and outdoors at break times. The school grounds have well maintained green areas where there are picnic tables for student use. There is also a raised garden, designed by Transition Year students, for everyone’s enjoyment. An Active Schools Flag walkway has been mapped out to encourage all members of the school community to get their steps in as well as some fresh air!

027 Senior Management & Principal OLS 2025-2026

THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SCHOOL

In 1817 Fr. Louis Lafosse, founded a small Religious Order, with the aim of educating young women in his parish in Echauffor, France. He saw education as an opportunity to escape hardship and improve one’s life. Along with the first Sisters of Christian Education, Fr. Lafosse founded a school with an educational system based on academic excellence and the development of the whole person. They wished to create a happy, joyful atmosphere, where pupils could develop their talents. The opportunity of education made such a large impact on the lives of the young girls they encountered, they enabled them to alter their life circumstances and gave them opportunities never before imagined.

They travelled to other schools and founded schools in Africa, USA, England and finally here in Ireland. In 1951, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Charles McQuaid, heard of the successful initiative of the sisters and invited them to come to Ireland. Bushy Park House was sold to the sisters who set about turning it into a school for young women. In 1953, at the invitation of the Archbishop of Dublin, Our Lady’s School, Terenure was opened. Following the ideals of Father Lafosse and the early Sisters, the school is a community which stands for Christian values.

The vision put forward by the founders is still rooted in our mission statement and lived out each day in everything that we do. Since 1953 countless women in our community have been given the opportunity to receive an education due to the vision of Fr Lafosse and the commitment of the Sisters. The Feast of the foundation of the Religious of Christian Education, is celebrated each year here in our school in November. It is a highly anticipated day of celebration where the Sisters are invited over to the school for ceremonies of celebration and gratitude.